Why has Thierry Henry resigned as France’s Under-21 head coach?

As if soccer didn’t already have enough headlines with the return of the leagues and the final days of the summer transfer market, Thierry Henry’s announcement that he is stepping down as France’s Under-21 coach was quite the bombshell.

The former Arsenal and Barcelona player took on the head coach role in August 2023, intending to give France hope for an Olympic medal in soccer. Henry reached the finals but lost the gold medal against Spain in a thrilling game that had to be decided in extra time. While it was only silver, Henry managed to win his country a medal in this sport for the first time in 40 years.

The reactions arrived quickly, and Philippe Diallo, president of the France Football Federation (FFF), was among the first to release a statement. “On behalf of the FFF, I would like to thank Thierry Henry for all the work he has accomplished at the head of the Espoirs and Olympiques teams,” Diallo stated.

“We obviously regret this decision because Thierry Henry was able to achieve the objectives that had been set for him by winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics 40 years after the Olympic medal in Los Angeles. Having followed him throughout this campaign, I was able to discover his great professionalism, his rigour and his love of the blue shirt. We wish him good luck for the rest of his career,” concluded FFF’s president.

Why has Thierry Henry resigned as France’s Under-21 coach?

In the statement released by the Franch legend, he attributes the decision to “personal reasons” and gives no further explanation. “I have to thank the FFF and Philippe Diallo, who gave me this amazing opportunity. Winning a silver medal at the Olympics for my country will remain one of the proudest achievements of my life,” declared Henry.

The 47-year-old also expressed his gratitude to his country’s federation: “I am incredibly grateful to the Federation, the players, the staff, and the supporters who allowed me to live out a magical experience.” Discussions are underway in the FFF about the new under-21 head coach, while there are still no rumors about the next step in Henry’s coaching career. However, he is expected to return to CBS for this season’s Champions League coverage. Henry became an internet sensation during last year’s CBS Sports Golazo program editions, where he was one of the presenters. The French legend was joined by Kate Abdo, Micah Richards, and Jamie Carragher.

Despite a short run with the France Under-21 squad, Henry left a mark on the team. With the French legend as head coach, France topped group A in the Olympic Games men’s soccer tournament with 9 points and beat Argentina 1-0 in the quarterfinals. They qualified for the final after their 3-1 victory over Egypt but failed to win the gold medal after losing 5-3 against Spain.